# NTSB FTW83LA152: North American AT-6, N9786Z, Norman, OK, March 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1983, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Norman, OK
- Location: 35.2456° N, 97.4721° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA WESTHEIMER (OUN), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2456&lon=-97.4721&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20833
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20833/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA152

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT LANDED WITH A 30 DEG LEFT CROSSWIND.AFTER TOUCHING DOWN IN A 3-POINT ATTITUDE, THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT & TURNED APRX 25 DEG BEFORE THE PLT REGAINED CONTROL. HE CORRECTED THE HEADING TO PARALLEL THE RUNWAY APRX 10 FT RIGHT OF A WHITE LINE MARKING THE EDGE OF THE MAINTAINED RUNWAY, THE ACFT STRUCK A SAWHORSE SURFACE. AS THE PLT INITIATED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE OPEN PORTION OF THE RUNWAY, THE ACFT STRUCK A SAWHORSE MARKING AN AREA OF DETERIORATING ASPHALT. NO MECHANICAL MANFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9786Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2927
- Airframe hours: 8066
- Engines: P&W 1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tom A. Thomas, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 28, 1983, 3 hours before
- Departed: F16, DENTON, TX
- Airport: OUN, Max Westheimer, runway 35, 3,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 13,755 total, 168 in this make and model, 10,756 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830306057789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830306057789A), Mar 6, 1983: Namer AT6, Norman, OK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on landing. Swerved off the runway and hit a barricade marking a soft spot in the asphalt.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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